Reading Week!

Here we are, the Thursday of Reading Week. Today was a bit of a wake-up call as today was the first day I actually sat down to get some work done! 


The weekend was a relaxing weekend, hanging out and doing nothing. 
Monday was Family Day, once again a 'do nothing' day. 
Tuesday was shopping in London for what seemed an eternity. 
Wednesday was more shopping and a movie. 


And of course, today I am struggling to make up for those relaxing days. Not that there is anything wrong with just spending time with my family, especially as Jennifer came home for Reading Week. But this means that my plan for getting a start on three essays this week is starting to look slightly out of reach. 

[On the plus side, I have seen two movies and read a book this week]

'This Is Where I Leave You' by Jonathan Tropper was included in Holly's book list of 2011. It was only a good book; it was funny and intelligent but I did not fall in love with the book. I enjoyed reading the novel but I could not relate to the middle-aged man whose wife cheats on him with his boss around the same time that his father dies. Judd Foxman, while having a ridiculously awesome name, is quite pitiful and while I am sure that was the intention of Tropper, it was only for the writing that I continued to read and not for the characters.  

I have heard some really great things about 'Crazy Stupid Love' from some friends but always just ignored the advice to see it. Until this past weekend that is. Kirk and I were at the video store for the longest time, not finding anything that interested us. As I became frustrated I grabbed this movie, having reached that 'I do not care anymore' stage. I was not really sure what to expect but I am sure glad I picked this movie. It is now my new favourite movie. I loved everything about it. I am still in that stage where I don't have any words to describe how much I loved it so all I will say is that everyone should watch it. Sorry Kathryn for not going out and renting this movie right after you told me about it! 

Yesterday Mom, Jennifer and I went shopping again and then to see 'This Means War'. I had seen quite a few trailers for the film and thought it looked hilarious. I was really excited to see it, but I quickly ran into problems when I tried to find a theatre that was playing it! Our normal theatre wasn't playing it and the only theatre in London that had the movie was SilverCity. I was really disappointed that there was so few places showing it but we did end up going to see it, despite the longer drive. I believe I could have really loved it, if it were not for 'Crazy Stupid Love'. Yes, I am blaming 'Crazy Stupid Love' for ruining my ability to enjoy a romantic comedy. My standards have been raised now and I have a feeling it will take some time before I stop comparing everything to 'Crazy Stupid Love'. 'This Means War' was cute; Reese Witherspoon is cute, Tom Hardy was cute [his accent, on the other hand, was fantastic] and Chris Pine was cute. Overall, cute. I believe it was the chemistry between two characters that saved this movie from being horrible. And that chemistry did not Reese's character, who just seemed an odd match for either Hardy or Pine. It was the bromance that gave the movie something interesting and exciting as their friendship seemed realistic and honest. 

My essay is coming along nicely now, so I should probably start to focus on it a little bit more than I have been. But to conclude:

• 'This Is Where I Leave You' - good, read it if you need something to fill your time. 
• 'Crazy Stupid Love' - go now and watch it! Seriously, go now! Stop reading this and go! 
• 'This Means War' - worth renting for a girl's night. Cute. 

Have you seen 'Crazy Stupid Love' or 'This Means War'? Or have you read 'This Is Where I Leave You'? Drop a comment with your thoughts! 

Monday

Nothing much is happening around here. And yet there is so much to do, which is why I figured today was a great day to sit around and do nothing.

I arrive home from the daycare around 1:30 or so and by the time I am done lunch and the barn it is close to 2. Since it is now 3:20 I have officially wasted an hour and a half of my day. 

I really should go and do something, because my list is getting larger and larger every day. Off the top of my head I have to:

• clean my desk, which has been neglected for so long I can no longer see the desk itself
• do laundry
• start some projects that I desperately want to do before school starts
• clean my room for back to school
• clean the cabin from camp
• figure out when to go to a movie with Kirk

This past weekend Kirk and I bought Avelee a wagon for her first birthday. We had decided earlier that we were just going to go and look at the wagons to see the different types available. So much for that plan. Not only did we purchase the Little Tikes Deluxe Ride and Relax wagon, we also decided we couldn't wait until September 17 and gave it to her on Sunday!! We even took her for a little ride, which was a lot of fun! 

And you should see the wagon!!! It is so cool! It comes with a cooler pack, 6 cup holders, an umbrella and one of the sides flips up so you can use it as a bench! I will see if I can get some pictures of Kirk and I assembling it Saturday night from his mom. 

And now onto the Monday Post! 

An Awesome Thing:

#840 Popping Bubble Wrap

I have been in a relationship with Kirk for over two years now and there have been little things that have happened over these two years that prove just how much I am in love with him. One of these little things happened just the other day when Kirk gave me some bubble wrap. I had recently, at some point, mentioned a bit ago how much I love popping bubble wrap. Now I can't even remember when I had mentioned this, as it was a just a passing comment. But Kirk remembered and brought me some bubble wrap from work for me. The only thing more awesome than popping bubble wrap is popping bubble wrap that your boyfriend brings you because he knows how much you love popping it. 

Book Update:

I am still working on my post for Pride and Prejudice. Stay tuned for that.
I finished The School of Essential Ingredients and you can read my review for it here.
I also finished reading Sarah's Key, which I did not love as much as I really wanted to. It was still great, but not fantastic. I will be posting a review for that soon.
I am reading Oliver Twist right now for the BBC list. It is not bad so far.

A Monday Present: 

I had a hard time finding something for this week. I just couldn't think of anything that would be great. And then I remembered this:

PINTEREST!!!!!

I am sure many people are already aware of Pinterest. But if you are not, you are welcome! It is so addicting, which is completely awful and wonderful at the same time for a university student. Jennie Guenard, one of my very first and best friends, {click here for her wonderful How to Deal With... blog and here for her amazing photography blog, Guenard Photography} told me about Pinterest. I both curse her and thank her every time I go on. Check it out, it is completely addicting and thrilling!!! Enjoy!

What sites can you not go a day without going on? How much time do you think you spend on the Internet a day? 

It's Monday!

The good news is that I am posting a Monday Post!

The bad news is that I didn't post anything since the last Monday Post.

I have so much to blog about right now that I have a really good feeling about this week and I believe it is going to be a multiple post week! So check back this week for: The Good Daughters book review, A Toronto Adventure, End of the Month Post, and Garage Sales! Exciting stuff coming up, eh?

On to the Monday Post!!

An Awesome Thing:
This week's Awesome Thing is actually something that I have been talking about recently, so it was an Awesome Thing to find it on the list! So two Awesome Things in one posting, it doesn't get any better than this!

#962 Being the guy on the construction crew who gets to hold the Stop sign
If I was ever to join a construction crew this would be my job. However, I would settle for driving the enormous steamroller, as that would also be pretty awesome! When ever I see someone with this awesome job I think about this one lucky construction worker that stopped my mom and me for about fifteen minutes while some work was being done. I cannot remember exactly what was talked about, but this guy was so friendly and full of energy and smiles. I do remember thinking that he had a wonderful outlook on life if he was so chipper despite having to hold the Stop sign in blazing heat all day long. This guy and his job are both awesome!

Book Updates:
I finished The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard and am currently in the middle of Bedtime Story by Robert J. Wieserma. I will publish my review for The Good Daughters sometime this week. I will say now that I very much enjoyed the book and will recommend it to most people. As much as I did enjoy The Good Daughters, I am loving Bedtime Story! I can't seem to put it down! I am up late reading it and try to find time during the day to read more. As long as the plot keeps moving in the direction it is currently moving it, this book has the potential to be a very good book.

I was on goodreads yesterday (I highly recommend this site for any book lover) and noticed the book club is featuring A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan. As the title was so fantastic, I decided to read a little bit about the book and reserved a copy from the online library. Depending on how long it takes to become available, I believe this will be my next read and I am very much looking forward to it.

A Monday Present:
I decided to introduce a new section to Monday Posts that will be a little 'present' from me to you. I don't really like 'Monday Present' so if anyone has a suggestion for a title I would love to hear it. Basically this will be a random item that I love and believe will bring a smile to people's faces. From pictures, to websites to conversations overheard, feel free to suggest something for next week's present.

This week I found the most amazing set of pictures ever! As Wall-e is one of my favourite Pixar movies, I knew this what I wanted to share this week. Please visit their website to see more wonderful pictures - http://emmycic.livejournal.com/557020.html?view=22600668#t22600668

LOVE:

Keeping with the Wall-e theme, I end this Monday Post with one of the most beautiful scenes I have ever seen in a movie, animated or not. 

Captain: Computer, define "dancing". 

Ship's Computer: Dancing: A series of movements involving two partners, where speed and rhythm match harmoniously with music.